CHICOPEE – Rita C. (Desjeans) Donaldson, 89, formerly of the Fairhaven Apartments at 400 Britton Street in the Fairview section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Friday, July 26, 2013. She passed into Eternal Life at Wingate at West Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on May 21, 1924, a beloved daughter of the late Laurent and Yvonne (Croteau) Desjeans. She was raised in Fitchburg and graduated from Fitchburg High School. She later settled in Holyoke and lived there for many years before moving to Springfield in 1946. In 1987, she moved to West Springfield and lived there until moving to the Fairhaven Apartments in Chicopee in 2007. During her early years, she was employed at the former Fisk Tire and Rubber Company in Chicopee where she met her husband, Arba G. “Buster” Donaldson. She was later employed for over 20 years as a warehouse supervisor for the former Steigers Department Store in Springfield. Following their closing, she worked for several years as a clerk at the former Pomona Market in Springfield. Active in her faith, she was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. Rita was a wonderful homemaker and enjoyed the simple things in life. She showered her family with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Arba G. “Buster” Donaldson who was Called Home on October 29, 1982. They were married on May 30, 1946 at Immaculate Conception Church Rectory in Holyoke and were blessed with over 36 years of happiness together. She leaves her devoted son and daughter-in-law, Paul A. Donaldson and his wife, Rachel, of Chicopee; her dear brother, Francis Desjeans and his wife, Elaine, of Holyoke; and her many dear nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. Besides her parents, her sister, and her husband, she was also predeceased by her longtime companion, Walter Wysocki. Her funeral will be held on Thursday morning, August 1, 2013 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her burial will follow the Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 421 Tinkham Road, Springfield, MA 01129. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. Her family has requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to Greyhound Options, Inc., 43 Sczygiel Road, Ware, MA 01082-9411. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com